Can You Get Your Tires Rotated for Free at Costco?

Cars are expensive to own. You not only have to cover the monthly payment, but also shell out for routine maintenance and repairs. From air filter changes to tire rotations, vehicles need a lot of attention.

Costco offers great deals on just about everything, but what about maintenance for your vehicle? Believe it or not, you can get free lifetime rotations at Costco if you purchase your tires there. Shopping at Costco Tire Center also comes with other benefits like discounts and free installation and balancing. Keep reading to learn more.

So, How Do You Get A Free Tire Rotation At Costco?

First, Let’s answer the burning question. Yes, Costco does perform free tire rotations.

However, there are two criteria you must meet in order to get a free tire rotation at Costco. First, you must be a Costco Wholesale member. Second, you must buy your tires from Costco. Although the warehouse club isn’t always the cheapest place to buy tires, they usually offer good deals, especially when you factor in the free benefits that come with your purchase.

The price of your tires includes free installation and inflation with nitrogen, which holds air pressure better than regular air. Other tire centers often charge extra for nitrogen inflation, so this is a nice perk. You’ll also receive a new basic rubber valve stem, but will be charged an additional fee if your car uses a TPMS valve.

You’ll be glad to know that tires purchased at Costco come with free lifetime benefits, including rotations, air pressure checks, balancing, and flat repair. Considering that flat repair alone can cost up to $60, these perks could help you save a lot of money over the life of your tires.

Most Costco tires also come with a 5-year road hazard warranty, which covers tread damage and tire failure. More on that later!

Drawbacks Of Free Tire Rotations At Costco

While Costco does perform free tire rotations, reviews on the service have not been stellar. According to hundreds of reviews on ConsumerAffairs, Costco Tire Centers only have a rating of 1 star out of a possible 5.

For example, a review from this user reported a common complaint of slow service:

Terrible! The Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin location is slow as can be. We purchased 4 tires online and expected tire professionals to be able to simply install them. They told us that there was a 3-4 hour backlog. I’m here checking in after 5 1/2 hours and they say it’s still 30 to 40 mins. What a joke. Never. Never again. They need to hire professionals that can work at a decent pace. Not these lowly paid kids that have no idea what they’re doing. The inconvenience is not worth the money saved. Never again. Costco is a joke! – Paschen of Kenosha, Wisconsin

Another common complaint is general carelessness, or harm that was done to vehicles while receiving a tire rotation. Many consumers, like this one who shared a review on Yelp, commented about the poor level of customer service and difficulty to reach anyone when calling the Costco Tire Centers.

Costco has the best prices on tires. Sadly, the customer service at this Center is not good. The poor installers also have to handle the front end so they take a long time to handle the influx of customers checking in in addition to changing tires. Also, 2 of my tires had large green spots of paint on them and a lot of lube left around the tires.

Also, I tried calling multiple times with no answer or being hung up on. They even answered once, put me on hold for 5 minutes, then I got hung up on. As a whole, I’d say try a different Costco Tire Center. – Kelly R. of Mission Viejo, California

Benefits Of Free Tire Rotations At Costco

The biggest benefit of Costco tire rotations is the price. If you purchase your tires from the warehouse club, you can get free rotations for the lifetime of your tires.

Consumers report that they are often able to score great deals on tires through Costco Tire Centers. The affordability of the tires plus the additional services offered may be worth it to some people, such as the individual who left the following 5-star review on ConsumerAffairs:

Ordered 4 90,000 mile tires online with delivery to local Costco and installation. Excellent price – about $40 lower per tire including savings from installation less than Sears. Installation cost was $15 per tire. This included mounting on rims, balancing, old tire disposal fee, road hazard ins, flat repair for 5 years. Lifetime rotation and pressure check, and nitrogen top off. The only disappointment was that they had no appointments available. I showed up just before opening time, but tire department was already open. There were 3 cars ahead of me. I asked how long was the wait. She said 1 hour to 1 1/4 hr. At one hour 16 min, the car was ready to go. Everybody working there were excellent in customer service. Will buy next time at Costco again for sure. –Charles of Lorton, Virginia

So yes, you can get free tire rotations at Costco if you have a membership and purchased your tires through one of their Tire Centers. If you need a tire rotation and don’t have a Costco membership, then there are other options.

See if the business where you purchased your tires offers free rotations. Many do like Pep Boys, Sam’s Club, and Discount Tires. You can also use services like Groupon to get great deals on tire rotations. Although they may not be free, they will be cheaper and normally come with an oil change, which Costco doesn’t offer. Costco Tire Centers used to perform oil changes, but unfortunately discontinued the service.

Other Free Tire Services At Costco

As mentioned above, Costco tires come with many other free benefits. Let’s break down the lifetime benefits that come along with the free rotations:

Road Hazard Warranty

Most tires sold at Costco come with a 5-year road hazard warranty that covers tread damage and tire failure due to cuts, punctures, or impact damage. If your tire can’t be repaired, Costco will give you a prorated credit based on the remaining life of the tire, which can be applied to the purchase of a replacement. However, there are some limitations to this warranty.

The damage must have occurred during standard, legal vehicle operation, so situations like accidents and vandalism aren’t covered. You must also maintain your tires as outlined by the manufacturer, ensuring that they are properly balanced, rotated, and inflated. You’ll also need to present the original purchase receipt for the tire to receive the credit.

Depending on which type of drivetrain your car has, you may need to replace one or more of the other tires in addition to the damaged one. Otherwise, you may experience uneven acceleration and braking due to differences in tread wear between your tires.

Sadly any tires without damage that need to be replaced won’t qualify for the Costco warranty. Also, if the damaged tire is considered bald (2/32 of an inch tread depth or less), Costco won’t give you any credit for it.

Despite these downsides, the road hazard warranty is still a nice perk. Usually tires are only guaranteed to be free from factory defects, so tread damage that happens on the road often isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. So Costco’s hazard warranty sets them apart from competitors.

Tire Balancing

If you purchase your tires at Costco, you’ll also get free balancing for the lifetime of the tires. If your tires aren’t balanced, they can wear unevenly and cause a rougher ride. Utilizing this free service will make sure you get the most life out of your tires. It is recommended to have tires rebalanced every 12,000 miles or every other rotation.

Flat Repair

If your tire gets a puncture or very small breach in the rubber, it can typically be repaired. This usually costs anywhere from $20 to $40. However, Costco will repair your tire for free if you purchased it there.

Just make sure you don’t drive the car on a flat or use chemical sealant on it before you swing by Costco. Both of these interventions can make it more difficult to fix the tire, or even ruin it completely.

Air Pressure Checks

Maintaining proper air pressure in your tires is very important. But it isn’t hard to make sure they’re inflated properly, so air pressure checks aren’t the best benefit that Costco Tire Centers offer. You can check your air pressure for free at most gas stations and auto parts stores. Or for around $5, you can buy a pressure gauge to keep in your car.

Additional Costco Auto Benefits

Costco not only helps members save money on tires, but also car maintenance, gas, car rentals, and even new vehicle purchases. Here’s a rundown of the auto benefits that Costco members are entitled to.

Maintenance Discounts

The Costco Auto Program enables members to get discounts on vehicle maintenance at participating service centers. You’ll receive 15% off the price of select parts, accessories, and services like wheel alignment and 30K mile maintenance. The discount can be applied to any car in your household, but is limited to a maximum of $500 per visit. You can use this service center locator to find participating providers in your area.

Gas

Did you know that gas at Costco is up to $0.30 cheaper per gallon compared to nearby gas stations? Just like the famous $1.50 hotdogs, gas is a loss leader that Costco sells at or below cost to attract customers. Depending on how much you drive, you could recoup the cost of your membership on savings from gas alone!

Auto Program

In addition to the services listed above, Costco has an Auto Program that can help you purchase a vehicle at a great price. Costco has pre-negotiated deals with over 3000 dealerships across the country, allowing you to access special member discounts on new, used, and leased cars.

Although certain vehicles may be excluded from the program, you’ll still be able to choose from a wide selection of cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and even recreational vehicles like RVs. To view current offers, available models, and see limited-time deals, take a look at Costco’s Auto Program page. If you need support during the car buying process, don’t forget that Costco has member advocates available to assist you.

Costco Car Rentals

Being a Costco member gives you access to Costco Travel where you can book discounted rental cars. The travel portal can also help you save money on flights, cruises, and hotels.

If you’re planning a move, your Costco membership can even save you 25% on moving trucks at Budget Truck Rental. Considering that it costs $1,000 to rent a moving truck on average, this benefit could save you a bundle.

Have you gotten free tire rotations at Costco? If so, tell us about it in the comments below.

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